The CHALLENGE

Wto the first stage in this year’s Scottish Field Whisky Challenge. Now in its 16th year, the Challenge has really established itself as an important barometer for what’s going on in the Scottish whisky industry and its results are eagerly awaited by experts and enthusiasts alike.

One of the reasons for the success of the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge has been its unimpeachable credibility. We only appoint the most respected figures in the whisky world – men whose credentials, nose and provenance are impeccable – to be our judges, and this year is no exception.

For the 2016 Challenge we have a fabulous line-up of eight judges, who have used skills, built up over a lifetime, to bring you the top three whiskies in three categories: under £40, £40-£80 and over £80. As well as the kudos of winning such a prestigious award, the top whisky in each category is automatically entered into the Grand Final at the end of the year, when our full panel of judges get together to choose the Scottish Field Whisky of the Year 2016.

With 46 of Scotland’s top whiskies going head to head, our judges had their work cut out. This year’s Summer Challenge waves a fond farewell to Iain Forteath, Mike Lord and Matthew McFadyen, who we would like to thank for their efforts over the last few years and wish them well in future endeavours. In their places we extend a warm welcome to Ewan McIlwraith of Robertsons of Pitlochry, Vicky Keough of The Whisky Shop Dufftown and Shane Goodbody, who replaces Matthew on behalf of The Good Spirits Company. This is what we had in store for them.

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‘One of the reasons for the success of the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge has been its unimpeachable credibility’